During his visit, Carson met with the 20th Support Command, the Joint Program Executive Office for the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA) and the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPEO-CBD). The organizations are part of Team CBRNE, a group committed to providing support for science, operation and engineering solutions, according to a ECBC press release.

"It was a great opportunity for Under Secretary Carson to see the full breadth of the work done here at Edgewood," Carmen Spencer, the director of JPEO-CBD, said. "This kind of interagency collaboration is what makes us a center of excellence for chemical weapons of mass destruction (CWMD). There is no other community like it in the nation."

Senior leaders of the organizations briefed Carson on current and future efforts to eliminate WMDs, including new technologies like the Field Deployable Hydrolysis System (FDHS). The FDHS is a transportable WMD-elimination technology that renders bulk chemical agents useless. Two FDHS units were installed on the MV Cape Ray to destroy Syria's chemical agent stockpile.

"ECBC plays a critical role within Team CBRNE to provide operational forces and equipment to counter CBRNE and WMD threats," Joseph Wienand, the director of ECBC. "It's imperative we stay current with technologies that can advance research defense efforts for emerging threats."

Carson also toured facilities, discussed current operations and met with subject matter experts. The visit marked Carson's first trip to the ECBC since he was appointed to his new position on March 27.